Press Releases & Statements

Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Action

Washington, D.C. – “With huge turnout yesterday, voters enabled Democrats to retake the House, electing candidates who are champions on issues from climate and energy to economic and social justice. Across the nation, with 113 million votes so far, we are seeing a repudiation of Trump’s disastrous policies. While there is much work to do, this election is the first step in stopping the juggernaut of environmental rollbacks that we’ve seen over the past two years, and a first hope at stemming the climate crisis.

“This election puts a legislative check on Trump’s big business agenda that harms people, the environment, our food system, and access to safe, clean water. What’s more, gains have been made at the state level, with progressive champions elected in legislatures across the country—including in California, Maryland, New Mexico, New York and Pennsylvania, where we endorsed several candidates that will fight the fossil fuel industry and protect our communities. Public water also won mightily on the ballot nationwide: Baltimore voters overwhelmingly passed Ballot Question E, making it the first major U.S. city to ban water privatization, and Monterey voters passed Measure J to begin the process of reclaiming their water system from California American Water despite the corporation’s $3 million cash infusion to stop it.

“Despite a few losses against colossal fossil fuel cash infusions to fight local initiatives to restrain oil and gas development, we have hope that this is the beginning of a collective move towards meaningful climate action on a larger level. With yesterday’s midterms we’re seeing the beginning of a Green Wave in the Democratic party, led by women like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Deb Haaland, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress; and Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim women elected to Congress. These members—and others like them—form the backbone of a stronger and more vocal progressive voice in Congress that is prioritizing what people really care about: a fair society, a healthy environment and a government that works for people, not corporations.

“We began working on climate change in earnest after recognizing that it is the greatest long-term threat to our food system and access to clean, affordable water for all. Before the Paris climate talks in 2015, we determined that we must transition off fossil fuels completely by 2035 and start the transition immediately. Since then, we’ve organized around the strongest federal climate legislation to date: the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act. Several of the congressional candidates elected last night pledged to support this key legislation, making them climate champions.

“A recent poll shows that climate change ranks second among issues of concern to Democrats, right behind healthcare. This election shows that climate change is square on the agenda now, and not just a marginal concern for voters.

“Climate action, clean water, jobs and economic justice, and safe and healthy communities should be the centerpiece of a green progressive agenda leading up to 2020 and beyond. Progressives should take heart with this big win. We will redouble our efforts to move Democrats towards this broad vision, and organize around it.

“We will continue our legislative work in a new Congress to support the transition off fossil fuels. We will also continue our efforts to build political muscle to support our aging public water systems in an era of climate crisis. We plan to reintroduce the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (WATER) Act to accomplish this. We are also working to support legislation that would halt megamergers in a highly consolidated food system that are leading to environmental degradation and economic hardship for rural communities. Our legislative agenda looks brighter now with more progressive champions in Congress.

“We’ll also work to hold the Trump administration accountable. There will be many much-needed investigations into the Trump administration’s dirty dealings at the EPA, Department of Interior and other agencies that have operated with virtually no oversight for the past two years. We’re also hopeful for a more constructive debate on issues that matter to all of us, and for the enhanced ability to block policies that help corporations but harm people and the environment upon which we all depend.”

Food & Water Action is a political advocacy organization supporting the educational work of Food & Water Watch. We champion healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.

Climate Champion Will Push for Bold Policies to move New York Off Fossil Fuels

BROOKLYN, NY – Food & Water Action, the political arm of the national advocacy organization Food & Water Watch, is endorsing Mark Dunlea for New York State Comptroller.

Dunlea has focused his campaign around addressing climate and specifically divesting the state pension fund from fossil fuels.

“Mark Dunlea’s leadership on climate change is exactly what we need in Albany. New Yorkers are ready for bold action on climate change, including divesting our state pension fund from fossil fuels,” said Alex Beauchamp, Food & Water Action’s Northeast Region Director. “For decades, we’ve seen little action on climate change but plenty of empty rhetoric from our elected officials. Now is the time to push for real action, and Dunlea will do just that.”

As one of the lead groups in the successful statewide fight to ban fracking, Food & Water Watch organizers and volunteers lead campaigns to shut down fossil fuel infrastructure, with a primary focus on the fracked gas power plants and pipelines proposed in every corner of the state. Several of the candidates endorsed by Food & Water Action have been active in the campaigns against these projects.

This is the first election cycle in which the group is deploying its statewide power to send strong climate champions to Albany.

Food & Water Action is the affiliated 501(c)4 arm of Food & Water Watch.

Slate of Progressive Democrats Will Push for Bold Policies

BROOKLYN, NY – Food & Water Action, the political arm of the national advocacy organization Food & Water Watch, is endorsing another slate of candidates who are committed to taking bold action on climate policy.

The group is endorsing the following candidates in state level races:

State Senate

Anna Kaplan (7th District)

James Gaughran (5th District)

Kevin Thomas (6th District)

Andrew Gounardes (22nd District)

Rachel May (53rd District)

State Assembly

Christine Pellegrino (9th District)

Food & Water Action endorsed these candidates based on their commitment to moving New York to 100% renewable energy by 2030, stopping fossil fuel infrastructure projects statewide, and protecting publicly-owned water systems from corporate takeover. Seven other candidates have already been endorsed by Food & Water Action.

The group is also endorsing Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose overwhelming primary victory in June attracted national attention. She has spoken out in favor of aggressive ‘Green New Deal’ clean energy policies, and is committed to co-sponsoring the Off Fossil Fuels Act (OFF Act), the most ambitious climate policy in the country. The legislation has dozens of co-sponsors, including 16 Democratic members of Congress from New York.

“With Ocasio-Cortez in Washington and these progressive leaders in Albany, New Yorkers will be sending a clear message: We are ready to take the lead on climate action, by putting people’s interests before corporate profits,” said Alex Beauchamp, Food & Water Action’s Northeast Region Director. “Under the Cuomo administration, New York has barely budged on renewable energy. It’s time to push much harder, and these leaders are ready to do that.”

As one of the lead groups in the successful statewide fight to ban fracking, Food & Water Watch organizers and volunteers lead campaigns to shut down fossil fuel infrastructure, with a primary focus on the fracked gas power plants and pipelines proposed in every corner of the state. Several of the candidates receiving their endorsement have been active in the campaigns against these projects. This is the first election cycle in which the group is deploying its statewide power to send strong climate champions to Albany.

Food & Water Action is the affiliated 501(c)4 arm of Food & Water Watch.

Food & Water Action, the political lobbying arm of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, has announced its endorsement of three progressive Democrats running to represent the Hudson Valley.

These Green New Deal candidates—Aidan O’Connor (Assembly District 102), Joyce St. George (Senate District 51), and Chad McEvoy (Assembly District 101)— earned the group’s endorsement based on their support for the New York Off Fossil Fuels Act (A. 5105/S. 5908), and the fact that they all have signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge. They join Hudson Valley natives Jen Metzger, candidate for Senate District 42, and Scott Martens, candidate in Assembly District 98, in the fight against our state’s dangerous addiction to dirty fossil fuels.

“Aidan, Joyce and Chad are exactly the kind of climate champions that the Hudson Valley needs for a robust clean energy economy,” said Santosh Nandabalan, organizer with Food & Water Action. “Voters are hungry to support Green New Deal candidates who want to get New York–and the nation– off fossil fuels. We are hopeful that more candidates up and down the ballot support these common sense measures.”

Food & Water Action has thus far withheld its endorsement of Antonio Delgado, the Democrat running to represent the 19th Congressional District. Despite embracing the Green New Deal rhetoric in a recent environmental forum, Delgado has refused to support the most aggressive climate legislation in the country, the Off Fossil Fuels Act. Sixteen of Delgado’s would-be colleagues in New York’s Congressional delegation support the bill, which mandates a shift to 100% renewable energy by the year 2035.

The OFF Act is also supported by bold progressive Democratic candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jess King, and Randy Bryce.

Baltimore, MD – Today Food & Water Action announced its endorsement of Marc Elrich for Montgomery County Executive.

“During his time as a County Council Member, Marc has been an innovative champion for the environment. He is a knowledgeable, policy-driven, progressive advocate for all,” said Food & Water Action Senior Policy Advocate Mitch Jones. “Marc has declared climate change to be the defining environmental issue of our time, and his work on the Council has shown he means it.”

As Councilman, Elrich sponsored the resolution that requires Montgomery County to eliminate greenhouse gases by 2035. He also pushed the Council to support removing dirty “renewables” like trash incineration from Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

“We can be assured that with Marc as County Executive, Montgomery County will live up to its commitment to fight climate change and lead the state towards a truly clean, renewable future,” Jones said.

Paid for by Food & Water Action and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Food & Water Action is a political advocacy organization supporting the educational work of Food & Water Watch. We champion healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.

Food & Water Action, the political arm of the national advocacy organization Food & Water Watch, is endorsing Josh Welle in New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District race.

The district’s current Republican representative has not done enough to fight President Trump’s agenda, which threatens the health of our most vulnerable citizens and our environment.

Josh Welle, who brings bold and new ideas to tackle climate change and other threats to our environment, earned the group’s endorsement based on his opposition to offshore drilling, fracking for oil & gas, and his support for the Off Fossil Fuels Act, the strongest climate and clean energy bill in the country.

“We are building a clean energy movement in New Jersey that will counter the pro-corporate Trump administration. Josh Welle is the kind of leader we need to send to Washington to fight for clean air, clean water, and a livable climate,” said Food & Water Action organizer Junior Romero.

The OFF Act, which calls for 100% renewable energy by the year 2035, has been endorsed by a number of progressive Democrats running in Congressional races across the country, including Jess King and Randy Bryce. The legislation is co-sponsored by dozens of members of Congress, including New Jersey’s Bonnie Watson Coleman.

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Food & Water Action is the sister organization to Food & Water Watch. While donations to Food & Water Action are not tax deductible, this gives us the ability to aggressively lobby legislators on issues that are important to you, support political candidates that will make a difference and engage voters to strengthen our democracy.

Paid for by Food & Water Action. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.